The Montreal Canadiens have removed from discovered their goalie scenario. What we are able to assume from Sam Montembeault’s latest contract extension is that he’s the almost certainly of the three goaltenders on the roster to be staying put. The opposite two are Jake Allen and Cayden Primeau.
The Canadiens have tried to get all of their goalies some begins as of late. However whereas they’re hoping everybody does nicely, there simply may be slightly extra of an incentive to cheer for Allen to play nicely and win. It is because his identify has come up as one of many potential Canadiens being shopped this season.
With Montembeault signed, the crew not but giving Primeau the most effective look, and the Canadiens nonetheless being in a rebuilding part, Allen is a veteran that can garner some consideration and will realistically be traded. He has another 12 months on his deal after this one at a cap hit of $3.85 million AAV (common annual worth). Except a crew shall be with out their starter and have cash obtainable, the Canadiens shall be retaining a few of that in the event that they transfer him. There have been various groups across the league linked to the Canadiens with reference to an Allen commerce this season, so let’s check out each single one in every of them.
Carolina Hurricanes
The Carolina Hurricanes could also be in a playoff spot proper now, however they’re far beneath the place anybody anticipated them to be or the place they need to be with their lineup. Earlier than the season, this defensive group was praised for a way good it seemed, whereas the ahead group has various robust two-way gamers.
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The Hurricanes have been an awesome defensive crew for years now and head coach Rob Brind’Amour expects loads of his gamers. That is what’s so complicated about this season. The crew ranks twenty first within the league in targets in opposition to with 110 in 35 video games (3.14 per recreation). Just lately, veteran Antti Raanta was despatched all the way down to the American Hockey League (AHL) and the Hurricanes recalled Yaniv Perets to again up Pyotr Kochetkov. Raanta performed two video games within the AHL, recording a .875 save proportion (SV%) whereas Perets didn’t see any ice time within the NHL. This was till Carolina made the swap again.
With Kochetkov sporting a .899 SV% this season and Raanta having a .854 SV%, the necessity for a goalie could be very excessive in Carolina. Frederik Andersen is coping with a blood-clotting difficulty and is and not using a return date. The one different plan the Hurricanes had was singing Aaron Dell to an expert tryout (PTO), however he’s a 3rd string goalie at greatest. Allen has confirmed he can carry out nicely within the NHL, even when he hasn’t been nice lately. The Hurricanes are a significantly better crew than the Canadiens and this is able to be a repair for the remainder of the season on the very least. As revealed by Elliotte Friedman on Hockey Evening in Canada, the Hurricanes are undoubtedly trying round for a goaltender.
Los Angeles Kings
The Los Angeles Kings have been pleasantly shocked by their free-agent-signing Cam Talbot. He has been rejuvenated taking part in behind a powerful defensive crew and has put up superb numbers this season. He’s carrying many of the load in internet and now that Pheonix Copley is out for an unspecified period of time, there’s a want for some assist in internet behind Talbot.
Kevin Weekes reported the Kings want to add a “#3 type goalie”, particularly with the uncertainty surrounding Copley’s return. Proper now, David Rittich is backing up and can get just a few begins, however he’s not somebody the Kings — a Stanley Cup contender — wish to must depend on if Talbot goes all the way down to harm. This isn’t a season that the crew needs to waste if one thing occurs in internet. Allen has confirmed he can begin for stretches and play nicely on high of that.
New Jersey Devils
The New Jersey Devils are one other crew that has had defensive/goalie struggles this season. Just like the Hurricanes, they don’t permit a ton of photographs on aim. This will make the save proportion numbers look worse, however regardless, the goalies have to cease the next proportion of pucks in the event that they don’t see a ton of photographs each night time.
What’s regarding is Vitek Vanecek’s SV% at .885 and Akira Schmid’s SV% at .893. Since Schmid continues to be in a position to be despatched down with out going by waivers, the Devils simply determined to ship him to the AHL to get some confidence and discover his recreation. Recalled in his place was Nico Daws, one other 23-year-old. The Devils can’t count on one other younger goalie to return in and take them deep into the playoffs. They had been stopped nicely wanting their aim final season after the strain or excessive degree of hockey caught as much as Schmid within the playoffs. As Vanecek isn’t that previous or skilled both, Allen could possibly be an answer. On Insider Buying and selling, Pierre LeBrun mentioned that a few groups will circle again after the Christmas break, the Devils being one in every of them.
Buffalo Sabres
The goaltending scenario for the Buffalo Sabres has been odd this season. The crew believed that Devon Levi was prepared, however he struggled to begin the season. They despatched him down and nearly instantly introduced him again up after Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen obtained injured. Levi has since performed very nicely and I don’t assume they’ll warrant sending him again to the AHL once more.
Luukkonen has been robust for essentially the most half, however the group nonetheless sees Levi as their future in internet. Luukkonen has the potential to at the very least break up begins over a full season and carry out nicely. I’m undecided that shall be in Buffalo. Eric Comrie however is the clear third string in Buffalo and I wouldn’t be shocked if he’s even despatched to the AHL finally.
Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Solar reported that the Senators “have been trying so as to add a goalie” and “might have sniffed round Allen.” (from INSIDER TRADING: GM Brad Treliving by no means rests in search to assist the Leafs’ defensive core, Ottawa Solar, 12/5/2023). I ponder how a commerce would work between the 2 golf equipment, however I wouldn’t be shocked if the Canadiens truly give one thing additional up in order that they might get Luukkonen in return to separate begins with Montembeault. A veteran presence is required in internet in Buffalo. Allen may be the best way they get one.
Seattle Kraken
The Seattle Kraken have come off a really spectacular marketing campaign the place they not solely made the playoffs in solely their second season, however knocked off the defending Stanley Cup champions and superior to the second spherical. They arguably overachieved, and with out star energy, as robust of ahead depth, and goalie points, are proper again close to the underside of the standings.
This hasn’t stopped the crew from considering there’s greater than sufficient time to remain within the playoff race. The crew misplaced Martin Jones within the offseason and Joey Daccord was the crew’s backup till Philipp Grubauer obtained injured; Daccord was promoted to the starter and has truly held the Kraken in video games. Seattle wants assist in internet although as Grubauer is listed as week-to-week and Chris Driedger is backing up. He simply performed his first recreation since 2021, recording a win with just one aim in opposition to, however that’s a lot too small of a pattern dimension. Bruce Garrioch additionally famous that the Kraken have reached out to the Canadiens about their goaltending scenario. With Daccord being the youthful and extra inexperienced goalie, I believe the one logical purpose why the Kraken reached out is involving Allen, a veteran with a lot of expertise that Daccord can lean on.
Colorado Avalanche
Earlier than the season even began, Pavel Francouz was injured and didn’t play. In mid-November, his standing was up to date to out for the season. When he couldn’t begin the season, the Colorado Avalanche needed to pivot and choose up Ivan Prosvetov off of waivers. He has labored out pretty nicely for them in a backup position to date, however could be very inexperienced. If starter Alexandar Georgiev goes all the way down to harm on the mistaken time, it might imply the top of the season for the Avalanche. On the very least, depth is an efficient factor to have.
Not solely is depth wanted in internet, including a veteran piece might work out nicely for the Avalanche. It’s true that Georgiev is being overworked. If Allen is acquired sooner slightly than later, that wouldn’t be the case. Jesse Granger of The Athletic famous Allen can be an excellent match for the Avalanche. They’ve a bit of cash and would have the ability to belief Allen behind Georgiev (from ‘NHL commerce board matchmaking: Which groups want a goalie, and who may match the place?’, The Athletic, 12/4/2023).
Edmonton Oilers
The ultimate crew that has been talked about alongside Allen is the Edmonton Oilers. That is one other crew clearly wants some assist in internet. Jack Campbell has been nothing however disappointing since being signed by the Oilers earlier than final season and the crew despatched him all the way down to the AHL some time in the past. Since then, his numbers haven’t gotten any higher and he has misplaced his beginning job within the AHL. With Calvin Pickard because the backup to a younger and inexperienced Stuart Skinner, the crew wants a 1B goalie to separate begins.
Allen is the person for that job and the Oilers have completed all the things from scouted to have discussions with the Canadiens concerning the goaltending. The Oilers are tight on cap, so the crew must get slightly inventive, however the Oilers are very determined to climb again into the playoffs. Beginning in February, they’ve a ton of video games jam-packed into the remaining days of the season. This can embrace back-to-backs and a recreation each different day. Skinner shall be nicely previous worn out if he doesn’t get some days off. Friedman had confirmed that Allen was on the Oilers’ radar.
Associated: Canadiens’ Montembeault Extension Signifies Allen Will Be Traded
The Canadiens are going to haven’t any scarcity of choices to maneuver Allen in the event that they so select. Because the season progresses, there might even be extra desperation by some and the Canadiens can get what they’re asking for. Till then, I’m going to imagine they’re asking for an excessive amount of and that’s a part of the explanation why he’s nonetheless with Montreal.
